Notes

This chapter marks the beginning of the portion of the sūtra that deals with the effectual aspect of the Lotus Sūtra teaching, it also begins the portion that discusses the Buddha as greater than his historical nirmāṇakāya manifestation. The first section, which began with flowers, trembling, and lights, was opened by a question of Maitreya, and likewise, this section is opened by a question of Maitreya.

Overall teaching

Countless bodhisattvas exist who will propagate the Lotus Sūtra in this world.

Summary

1.     The Buddha is again asked for permission to preserve and propagate the sūtra after the Buddha’s parinirvāṇa, but he tells them that it is not necessary, as there are countless bodhisattva mahāsattvas in the sahā world already who can preserve and propagate the sūtra. They are led by four Bodhisattvas who ask after the Buddha’s health. He declares he is well and they rejoice. (39c-40b)

2.     After they arise, Maitreya and the other bodhisattvas who were already in the assembly are confused, as they had never seen those bodhisattvas before. He asks the Buddha to explain how they arise. Each attendant of all the Buddhas under the jewelled trees ask their respective buddha the same question. (40b-41a)

3.     The Buddha then declares that all the bodhisattvas were trained and awakened by him. (41b)

4.     Maitreya and the bodhisattvas become confused and ask how the Buddha could have trained all of these beings within the mere forty years of his career, likening the credibility of such a feat to man of twenty-five claiming that a man of one-hundred is his son. (41b-42a)

Analysis

Tao-sheng points out that, as with some interpretations of the Buddha’s silence in chapter thirteen, Bodhisattvas do not need permission to preserve and propagate the sūtra. But the welling up of Bodhisattvas out of the earth indicates the inherent possession of awakening in beings, and they are bound to break through (splitting of the earth) the defilements and safeguard the Dharma.